Habs Need Forward Thinking
April 1, 2024
By Bob Trask
This season’s edition of the Montreal Canadiens has made noticeable progress over last year’s team, even without 2nd line center Kirby Dach in the lineup. The next goal for the team is to challenge for a playoff spot. The question is, what will it take to do that? Various suggestions as to what is required have been put forward. Some want to improve the PP or improve the PK, others want a top 6 winger or a top pairing RD added to the mix, and the list goes on. Another way to look at it is by taking a big-picture view. For the sake of argument let the top 16 teams make the playoffs. If you look at those teams who are challenging for that last spot, they all have one thing in common. Their goal differential hovers around zero; they score approximately the same number of goals as they allow. The Canadiens are currently around -49. They sit 28th in goals for and 26th in goals against, so both departments need improvement. Adding 25 goals for and subtracting 25 goals against should put them right in the middle of a fight for a playoff spot. With those issues identified, general manager Kent Hughes can look for solutions. The return of Kirby Dach should help the offense, and the continued maturation of the young defense corps along with a more settled goaltending picture should help the defence. But more will be needed. What approach will Hughes take? We will learn more at the draft and in the offseason. – Trask